By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Vietnam veteran Larry Palmer silently read the names engraved on the World War I and II monument.
“I recognize names because their families are still here,” Palmer said.
“I can get teary-eyed here,” the Army veteran said. “When I go to the wall in D.C., I get teary-eyed too.”
Palmer was among the many veterans, their families, community leaders, scouts and band members who filled the front yard of the Wood County Courthouse for the rededication of the Wood County Veterans Memorial Plaza on Saturday morning.
The new memorial plaza rectifies previous problems at the site of the monuments deteriorating, failing to recognize those who served since the Vietnam War, and offering no place for the public to sit and reflect.
“It’s nice to have a nice memorial here in Bowling Green,” said Vern Hansen, who served in Vietnam and retired as a full colonel.
“We were forgotten when we got back,” Hansen said. But the new plaza is the kind of reception that veterans deserve. “It exceeds my expectations.”
Retired Air Force veteran Ken Ladik, of Bowling Green, served four tours in the Gulf War. On Saturday, he surveyed the monuments with satisfaction.
“This is a very, very special thing to recognize the guys who didn’t make it back,” Ladik said. And the dedication was being held on a “very, very special day” – the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Greg Robinette, who is commander of American Legion Post 45 in Bowling Green, recognized the work of local historians Joe Boyle, Harold Brown and David Ridenour in researching the names of those lost in wars from the Civil War till today.
“To all veterans – especially the Vietnam veterans – welcome home,” Robinette said. “Your service matters, and more importantly, you matter.”
Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw told of the birth of the county memorial site in 1950. The first memorial placed on the grounds was a monument for local servicemen lost in World War I and World War II, on behalf of Gold Star mothers.
More monuments followed – for those serving in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the local Civil War soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for their role with Andrew’s Raiders.
Over the years, the WWI and WWII monument suffered from weather erosion, and the bronze plaque on the front had not allowed for more names to be added appropriately. The new front of the monument has the names etched in stone, including additional names identified by the Wood County Genealogical Society.
In 2000, a plan was introduced to renovate the veterans memorial site to make it more easily accessible to veterans, and a place suitable for programs. But the plan failed to progress.
Then in 2019, the issue was revived, when memorial plans were presented at the end of a service honoring Wood County native Edwin Byers, who received the Medal of Honor in 2016 for his role in rescuing a hostage in Afghanistan.
Wood County officials reaffirmed their goal for local veterans to have a memorial site worthy of their service.
A retaining wall has been built along the North Prospect Street sidewalk. Lining that area are the updated, repaired and cleaned monuments to veterans of the Civil War, World War I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Medal of Honor veterans. Three additional monuments were installed for Persian War veterans, Gold Star families, and one to honor those who died outside of combat.
The monument plaza was a place of great grandeur on Saturday with historic military vehicles displayed on Court Street, a flyover by old military type aircraft, a rifle salute by Wood County Honors Detail, the laying of wreaths, patriotic songs from the specially formed Wood County Veterans Memorial High School Band, and the raising of Old Glory by Boy Scouts.
In days ahead, the monument plaza will be a place of peace and reflection for those who spend time sitting on the new granite benches.
Army veteran Jack Jones, chairperson of the Veterans Memorial Committee, talked about the importance of the location and the improvements made.
“We wanted to restore these memorials to their original glory,” Jones said. “This will allow the paying of respect in a dignified setting.”
Robinette noted the history of the first monument erected 71 years ago for the “heroic sons of Wood County” by their mothers after World Wars I and II.
“They dared to die – that freedom might grow,” he said of the veterans. And their families wanted it known that “the lost were not lost in a meaningless way.”
Robinette talked about the significance of rededicating the memorial plaza on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Even in the dark despair of losing 2,977 lives to the attacks, the nation was lifted by hope and resilience.
“We made a collective promise never to forget,” he said.
The keynote address was presented by Major General James R. Camp, assistant adjutant general for Air Ohio National Guard – who was called to action on that day two decades ago.
“What better way to spend Patriots Day, than spending it with patriots,” Camp said looking across the filled memorial plaza.
Two days before the terrorist attacks, Camp was at the end of 10 years of service in the Ohio National Guard, and was planning to resign.
“I had no idea that two days later, my whole life would change,” he said.
Camp was driving to Rickenbacker Airfield for training that morning when he heard about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center tower.
“I was planning to let one of my commanders know I was getting ready to take my uniform off,” he said.
But in the flight room, Camp and others watched as the second plane struck.
“We all knew this was a game changer,” he said.
Camp was told to get a crew for his air refueling aircraft and head to the Pentagon. In a record time of 19 minutes, they were airborne.
As the crew neared the capital, Camp saw signs of the destruction.
“I could see the smoke from the Pentagon,” he said.
In his haste to get in the air, Camp had forgotten the secret codes to authenticate the flight. “It was kind of an uncomfortable moment.”
But he had the boom operator lower the air refueling equipment, and begin fueling the jets over the nation’s capital.
“We shifted from strategic reserve to an operational necessity,” Camp said of the Ohio Air National Guard.
And Camp went from a pilot ready to quit the military and focus on flying commercially, to a man wanting to dedicate his service to protecting the nation. He was deployed to a “no fly zone” in northern Turkey, and then to the invasion of Iraq, where he refueled jets in the air.
“Sadly, I don’t believe that journey is over,” Camp said.
Two decades ago, in the wake of 9/11, young Americans were clamoring to join the military. But the nation’s commitment to the military appears to be slipping – with only 27% of every household having some type of connection to the military, he said.
He asked those present at Saturday’s dedication to serve their nation again, by telling young people about the value and rewards of military service.
“Reach out to young folks to help them discover the value of service,” he said. “We have an obligation to continue supporting freedom and democracy.”
